Refrigerated display counter



May 7, 1929,. w. A. RECHTER REFRIGERATED DISPLAY COUNTER Filed Nov. 15, 1926 l N VEN TOR.

Patented May 7, 1929.

WILLIAM A. RICHTER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

REFRIERATED DISPLAY COUNTER.

Application led November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,472.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerated display counters.

It is one of the objects of the present 1nvention to provide a refrigerated display counter in which there is an active, rapid c1rculation of air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated display counter having an inclined base or deck in communication with a vertical air duct whereby the cold air will be afforded a total drop, greater than ordinarily, to greatly facilitate its movement and circulation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated display counter equipped with means for controlling the air circulation.

A further-object of the invention is to provide a display counter of the class described adapted to be cooled either by means of coils or a brine tank. j

A further object of the invention is to prorvide a refrigerated display counter so arranged that the contents thereof are readily visible and are effectively displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated show counter which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, is neat and attractive in appearance, and

is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved refrigerated display counter and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claim and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: 4

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved refrigerated display counter;

fFig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view there- 0 Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side view of a coil supporting rack;

` Fig. 4 is an edge view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of an air duct gate, and on a larger scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that the numeral 8 5o indicates supporting legs upon which the display counter 9 is mounted. The base of the counter is forwardly inclined at a substantial angle, preferably in the ratio of a drop of one inch in tive, resulting in the inclination being at an angle greater than ten degrees. The lowermost layer of the base is formed of Vhard wood, indicated by the numeral 10, andl superimposed upon the same are two layers 11 and 12 of cork insulation.

A vertical rear portion is also formed of an outer layer 13 of Wood and inner layers 14 and 15 of cork. A similar vertical front portion formed of layers 16, 17 and 18 is also provided. The ends of the counter are also multi-layered, including outer wood layers 19 and inner insulating cork layers 2O and 21.

The vertical front and rear portions are joined by a top member 22 which comprises a rear inclined portion 23 and a forward inclined portion 24 joined by a horizontal rail 25.4 Mounted in the rear inclined portion 23 are sliding doors 25 affording access to the interior of the counter. The forward inclined portion 24 is in the form of a frame in which are held several lights of glass 26 whereby the contents of the counter are readily visible.

Any suitable means may be employed for` cooling the interior of the counter but it is especially adapted for cooling coils. shown the refrigerating system includes a vertical coil 27 extending at one end through the counter, as at 28, and leading to a refrigerating machine of a conventional type (not shown). It is preferred that the coil 27 be lodged `within a narrow tank 29 which extends the length of the counter and the tank is adapted to contain a ten per cent brine solution to form slush ice and increase the hold over capacity of the tank.

A second vertical coil 30 is positioned forwardly of the coil 27 and is connected thereto. A horizontal coil 31 is joined with the lowermost portion of the coil 30 and is positioned slightly above the inner layer 12 of the base, and said coil extends lengthwise of the counter and across its width. The end portion 32 of said coil extends through an end of the counter and returns to the refrigerating machine.

In order to support the coils30 and 31 a plurality of transversely extending racks 33 are provided. Said racks are positioned between the tank 29 and the front layer 18 at spaced intervals and are formed with notches or recesses 34 to'receive the coils.

An angular plate 35, the base of which is inclined downwardly to correspond with the inclination of the base of the counter, is positioned on said coils 31 and racks 33 and extends the length of the counter. Lugs 36 formed on the racks, hold the plate in position.' Said plate serves as. a" support for articles lodged within the counter to be disp played therein and also defines airfducts which are essential to the eicient operation of the counter. A vertical air duct 37 is formed between the vertical portion ofthe plate and the tank 29, and-an inclined air duct 38 is formed between the base portion of the plate and the base of the counter.

cooled by the coils and'tank and is drawn into the vertical air ductv 37. As the air is further cooled its tendency is yto drcp and this action is facilitated by the column`of air in said duct, the air being forced into the in,- clined duct 38.v Due vto the substantial inclination of said duct at the angle mentioned, Y the action of air therein will not be sluggish and it will be forced along by the column of air above it. The air is liberated at the open end portion 39 of theinclined duct and it gradually rises in the counter as it warms until it is in a position to be again drawn into the vertical duct 37 and be recooled, the suction being caused by the constant, rapid circulation through the ducts. Gates 40 are pivotally connected toth upper. portion ofthe plate and are fric'- tionally and yieldingly held in any adjusted position by springs 41. s Circulation within the counter may be controlled by closing any or all of the gates'to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, wherein entrance to the vertical air duct is shut off.

In operation, air with-in the, counter isA The displa counter may, of course, be of any desired ength, and the interior vthereof Vis drained by asuitable, longitudinally extending drain front of the counter.

Whilea tank and coils have been shown as the means for refrigerating the counter-.it is to be understood that any cooling medium positioned within the air ducts may be used to advantagewithout departing from thespirit of the invention.

From .the foregoing description itwillbe l seen that'the improved refrigerated display counter is of very simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth. f

What I claim as my invention is A In a refrigerated show case having a steep forwardly inclined base, a pluralityV of spaced angular racks Inountedvon said base, each rack having a rear vertical portion and a forwardly inclined lower portion spaced from each other at an angle substantially pipe 42 positioned along the greater than a right angle, there being 

